... was the first President of Zimbabwe (1980–7) – but this was essentially a ceremonial role, with little power. He was replaced by Robert Mugabe as Executive President in 1987, after the position of Prime Minister was abolished.
A law was passed in 1982 making it illegal to make jokes about his name.
Banana was accused of serial homosexual rape (during his time in office) in 1997, and in the following year he was convicted of 11 counts of "sodomy" and "unnatural acts". He fled the country before sentencing, and was believed to have sought asylum in Botswana. He died of cancer in London, in 2003, aged 67.
© Haydn Thompson 2017